AP Physics 2
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AP Physics 2 Course Syllabus
Important Physics 2 Dates
Text:   College Physics - Explore and Apply (2nd Edition) by Etkina, Planinsic, and Van Heuvelen
Text:   Open Stax, College Physics by Paul Peter Urone & Roger Hinrichs
College Board Documents: Overview, Course & Exam Description, Info and Equation Sheet
College Board Websites: Student Home, AP Central Home
AP Physics 2 Released Free Response - by year, includes scoring guidelines
Mr. M's favorite internet Links for physics
Lab Information and Homework Requirements
Electrostatics - Field and Potential
    Objectives & Homework - Electrostatics         Answer Key
    In-Class Practice
    Interactive Desmos Graph:   Electric Field Superposition of two point charges
    Interactive Desmos Graph:   Equipotentials for two point charges (3-D version)
    Potential vs. Field using PhET's Charges and Fields
    Electrostatics Mini-Lab - Charging by Conduction and by Induction
    Review Problems
    Class Notes:   Charge Basics,   Force and Field,   Potential vs. Field,   Potential vs. Charge
Circuits - Resistors, Batteries, and Capacitors
    Objectives & Homework - Circuits & Capacitance         Answer Key
    In-Class Practice
    EMF & Internal Resistance - an interactive lesson/investigation
    Mini-Lab: Resistivity - Aluminum foil "wires" in the classroom
    Mini-Lab: Virtual Resistivity - Accuracy of PhET simulated DC circuits    
    Mini-Lab: EMF and r - Terminal voltage, emf, and internal resistance     Lab Report
    Capacitor Intro - get your feet wet using PhET AC Circuits Lab
    Mini-Lab: Capacitor - homemade aluminum foil capacitor
    Review Problems
    Lab Report - Battery properties and capacitance     (see also Lab Information)
    Class Notes:   Current & Power,   Resistance & Resistivity,   Circuit Analysis,   Capacitance
Magnetism - Magnetic Fields and Induction
    Objectives & Homework - Electromagnetism         Answer Key
    In-Class Practice
    Mini-Lab: Earth's Field - Components, Magnitude, Inclination
    Mini-Lab: Magnetic Force - Interactions of magnet and current coil
    Mini-Lab: Magnetic Field - Field of a long, straight current
    Review Problems
    Class Notes:   Magnets & Poles,   Magnetic Force & Charges,   Magnetic Force & Currents,
                        Magnetic Fields Sources & Ampere's Law,   Magnetism in Matter,   Induction & Faraday's Law
Waves & Interference - Wave Parameters, Source & Medium, Superposition, etc.
    Objectives & Homework - Waves & Interference         Answer Key
    In-Class Practice
    Interactive Desmos graphs: Wave Types, 3D Animated EM Wave
    Wave on a String - PhET Interactive HTML5 simulation
    Wave Interference - PhET HTML5 simulation
    Interactive Desmos graphs: Wave Function, Interference Patterns (2 slit)
    Mini-Lab: Interference - Diffraction gratings & wavelength of LED's
    Lab Report - Standing Waves     (see also Lab Information)
    Review Problems
    Class Notes:   Wave Basics,   Graphing Waves,   Light & EMR,   Diffraction & Interference
Geometric Optics - Reflection, Refraction, Images, Lenses & Mirrors
    Objectives & Homework - Optics         Answer Key
    In-Class Practice
    Interactive Desmos graphs: Image in Plane Mirror, Retroreflector
    Image in Spherical Mirror - practice with Law of Reflection, image formation, and ray tracing
    Mini-Lab: Refraction - Snell's Law and the index of refraction of water     Lab Report
    Mini-Lab: Lenses - Images and focal length
    Lenses and Mirrors Lab - Images, Lenses, and Mirrors     Tips for doing the lab
    Ray Diagrams - Pencil & paper practice with Lenses & Mirrors
    Interactive Desmos graph: Ray Tracing Practice
    Review Problems
    Class Notes:   Reflection & Refraction,   Thin Films,   Lenses & Mirrors,   Image Equations
Thermodynamics - Heat, Internal Energy, Gas Laws, Kinetic Theory, Entropy
    Objectives & Homework - Thermodynamics         Answer Key
    In-Class Practice
    Kinetic Theory Ideal Gas Desmos Graphs:   Distribution of Speeds
    Mini-Lab: Ideal Gas Law - PV = NkT w/ GoDirect Pressure Sensor
    Mini-Lab: Gas Properties - Kinetic theory and gas laws using PhET Simulation
    Review Problems
    Class Notes:   Internal Energy, Temperature & Heat,   Processes, Cycles, & Engines,   Entropy
Modern Physics - Quantum Models, Photons, Scattering, Nuclear Reactions & Decay
    Objectives & Homework - Quantum and Atomic Physics
    In-Class Practice
    Mini-Lab: Photoelectric Effect - using PhET Java simulation
    Mini-Lab: Planck & LEDs - Experimental measurement of energy per photon
    Review Problems
    Class Notes:   Wave/Particle Duality,   Special Relativity,   Nuclear Physics
Final Exam!
    About the Final Exam . . .
    Early Dismissal Form
    Review Questions and Problems - Multiple Choice
    Practice Problems based on DAWN
    Practice Problems using Interactive Simulations
Fri 9 Aug | Student Info Form (complete on Canvas) |
Mon 12 Aug | Syllabus Quiz (on Canvas) |
Mon 12 Aug | Lab Safety Contract (submit on Canvas) |
Tue 20 Aug | Electrostatics Problems 1 - 22 |
Mon 26 Aug | Electrostatics Problems 23 - 39 |
Tue 27 Aug | Electrostatics Test |
Thu 12 Sept | Circuits Problems 1 - 20 |
Wed 18 Sept | Circuits Problems 21 - 36 |
Fri 20 Sept | Circuits Test |
Thu 26 Sept | Battery and Capacitance Lab |
Fri 27 Sept | School Closed (Helene!) |
Tue 1 Oct | Magnetism Problems 1 - 18 |
Tue 15 Oct | Magnetism Problems 19 - 37 |
Wed 16 Oct | Magnetism Test |
Fri 25 Oct | Wave Problems 1 - 22 |
Wed 6 Nov | Wave Problems 23 - 47 |
Fri 8 Nov | Waves & Interference Test |
Wed 13 Nov | Standing Wave Lab |
Fri 22 Nov | Optics Problems 1 - 23 |
Tue 26 Nov | Optics Quiz |
Tue 3 Dec | Optics Lab |
Fri 6 Dec | Thermodynamics Problems 1 - 19 |
Wed 11 Dec | Thermodynamics Problems 20 - 30 |
Fri 13 Dec | Thermodynamics Quiz |
Modern Physics Homework (Optional) | |
Modern Physics Quiz | |
Tue 13 May | AP Exam: Physics 2       full AP sched |
Early Dismissal and Exemption Forms |